Handle



INVENTOR. V aka/0y ORNEYS- G. v. JAKEWAY HANDLE Filed June 12, 1941 Feb. 22, 1944.

Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDLE Application June 12, 1941, Serial No. 397,675

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in handle.

The objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved handle and the like for automobile doors and remote controls which may be readily produced in highly ornamental designs to match desired finishes or plans.

Second, to provide a structure having these advantages which is very simple and economical in its parts and in the assembly thereof and at the same time is very strong and durable.

Third, to provide an improved method by which these ends or objects may be accomplished.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view mainly in section on line ll of Figs. 2 and 3 of a desirable embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the spindle being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating steps of method employed in the assembly and fabrication of the articles, the parts being shown in full lines in their assembled relation prior to the heat forming step and in completely assembled relation by dotted lines.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, I designates in general a handle such as is commonly employed for operating automobile doors, remote controls and the like. The spindle or chill 2 is provided with a laterally projecting extension or arm 3 which extends into the handle and provides a strong and effective connection for the spindle. The core or body member 4 is preferably formed as a sheet metal stamping and is suitably elongated and curved where curved handles are desired. This core is of channel cross section conformed to fittingly receive the arm 3 and secured thereto by spotwelding or other suitable means, not illustrated. The core member 4 is provided with laterally offset side portions 5 providing rearwardly facing shoulders 5| and flangelike portions 6.

The casing members 1 and 8 are formed of channel section and preferably both members are of thermoplastic moldable material, at least, the outer member. Tenite is found to be very satisfactory for this purpose, but there are other plastics which might be employed.

The outer or cap casing member has a channel 9 therein receiving the outer portion of the core member, while the inner member 8 has a channel It] therein receiving the inner portion of the arm of the spindle which constitutes a part of the core so that both casing members are supported and located by the core. The inner casing member has an out-turned edge or fiange portion 1 l which fits within the outwardly offset portion of the core member 4 and abuts the shoulders thereof resulting from the offset.

The outer casing member has internal recesses l2 in its sides receiving the outwardly offset portions of the core member 4 as shown in Fi 3. When the parts are assembled they are disposed in their nested position as shown in Fig. 4 within the recess I3 of the forming die [4. It will be observed that the sides of the outer casing member project substantially beyond the edges of the core member 4, and of course, beyond the edges of the inner member, the edges of which are nested within the core member.

The forming die I5 is provided with suitable heating means indicated at I6, electric heating means being indicated, and the die members are gradually closed as the curved parts I! of the heated die member contact the edges of the outer casing member, whereby the same are rendered moldably plastic and curved inwardly around the edges of the core member. This closing operation should be suitably timed with the heating.

It will be noted that the edges of the outer casing member are brought into abutting supporting and retaining relation to the laterally projecting portions of the member 8. If desired, some fusing action may result from the heat in the abutting portions, or a suitable solvent may be applied to effect the fused autogenous connection between these abuttmg parts although the structure is very desirable without that.

This operation may be quite rapidly performed and the resulting structure is strong, rigid and attractive in appearance. The plastic material such as Tenite may be variously colored to correspond to desired trim in an automobile, for example. Finishing and polishing operations are not required and the use of die casting and other metals now required for other uses is avoided.

Embodiments of the invention which incorporate the principles of the invention in a highly desirable manner have been illustrated and ,described. It should be understood that the foregoing terminology is used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, and with full intention to include equivalents of the features shown and described, within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is: i

1. In a hardware article, the combination of a spindle having a laterally disposed arm, a sheet metal core member of elongated curved outline and channel section embracing and secured to said arm in inwardly facing relation, the sides of said core member being laterally offset providing inwardly facing shoulders and inwardly projecting edges, an inner casing member formed of thermoplastic material and of channel section conformed to fittingly receive said spindle arm around the edges of said core member with. their edges turned reversely in abutting relation to said laterally projecting flanges of said inner member.

2. In a hardware article, the combination of a spindle having a laterally disposed arm, a sheet metal core member of elongated curved outline and channel section embracing and secured to said arm in inwardly facing relation, an inner casing member formed of thermoplastic material and of channel section conformed to fittingly receive said spindle arm and having side portions disposed within said core member, and an outer casing member formed of thermoplastic material and of channel section conformed to fittingly'receive saidcore member, the sides of said outer casing member being folded around the edges of said core member with their edges engaging said side portions of said inner member.

3. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member having laterally offset side portions providing inwardly facing shoulders, an inner casing member formed of thermoplastic material having laterally projecting flanges disposed in abutting relation to the shoulders of the core member, and an outer casing member formed of thermoplastic material and of channel section embracingsaid core member and having internal recesses in its sides receiving the laterally offset side portions of the core member, the sides of said outer casing member being folded around the edges of said core member with their edges engaging said inner member and having an autogenous joint connection therewith.

4. In a hardware article, the combination of an elongated core member recessed longitudinally thereof, an inner casing member formed of thermoplastic material and having laterally pro- J'ecting flanges disposed within said recessed core member, and an outer casing member formed of thermoplastic material and of channel section embracing said core member, the sides of said outer casing member being curled around the edges of said core member with their edges in' supporting relation to said laterally projecting flanges of said inner casing member.

5. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member havin laterally oiTset side portions providing inwardly facing shoulders and inwardly projecting edges, an inner casing member formed of thermoplastic material having laterally projecting flanges disposed in abutting relation to the shoulders of said core member and within the inwardly projecting edges thereof, and an outer casingmember formed of thermoplastic material and of channel section embracing said core member and having internal recesses in its sides receiving the laterall offset side portions of the core member, the sides of said outer casing member being folded around the edges of said core member with their edges engaging said laterally projecting flanges of said inner member.

6. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member, an inner casing member formed of thermoplastic material having laterall projecting flanges disposed within said core member, and an outer casing member formed of thermoplastic material and of channel section embracing said core member, the sides of said outer casing member being folded around the edges of said core member with their edges in supporting relation to said laterally projecting flanges of said inner casing member.

7. A hardware article comprising a spindle having an operating extension, a metal core of elongated outline and U-shape section internally receiving and locating said extension, coacting inner and outer casing members of gen- .erally U-section fabricated of premolded thermoplastic material, said members being assembled in opposed relation and being nestingly engaged internally and externally respectively of said U-shaped core, the latter having side ofisets to abut and position the side edges of the inner member, the side extremities of the outer member overlapping the edges of the core and being extended around the latter.

8. A hardware article comprising a metal core of elongated outline and U-shape in section, coacting casing members, at least 'one of which :is of generally U-section, said members being .fabricated of .premolded thermoplastic material and encasing the core, said members being arranged in opposed relation and nestingly associated with opposite sides of said U-shaped core, the side extremities of one of the members overlapping the edge of the core and being extended around the latter.

9. In a hardware article,.the combination of a core member of channel section having stepped side portions, an inner casing member having laterallyprojecting flange-portions disposed in engagement with said stepped side portions of the core member and coacting therewith to provide rea'rwardly facing grooves, and an outer casing member formed of thermoplastic material and of channel section embracing said core member and having the sides thereof curled around the edges of said core member and into said grooves.

10. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member of channel section, an inner casing member disposed within said core member and coacting with the side members thereof in providing rearwardly facing grooves, and an outer casing member formed of thermoplastic material and of channel section embracing said core member and having the sides thereof curled around the edges of said core member and into said grooves.

- 11. In a hardware article,.the combination of a core member of channel section, an inner casing member disposed within said core memher, and an outer casing member formed of thermoplastic material and of channel section embracing said core member and having the sides thereof curled around the edges of said core member into retaining engagement with said inner casing member.

GERALD V. JAKEWAY. 

